Alleycat

From ibikeu Wiki

An alleycat is a bicycle race held in live traffic, usually in an urban area. Originally held by bicycle messengers, they usually incorporate elements of messengering such as manifests and the collection and delivery of packages. Contestants in an alleycat are often expected to obtain objects listed on the manifests given to them at the beginning of the race, and to check in at checkpoints around the city where they are sometimes required to engage in stunts such as rapid drinking of alcohol (or hot sauce, for those who do not or cannot drink). Contestants are usually allowed to determine their own routes as long as they check in at all checkpoints; indeed, an important part of alleycat racing is testing contestants' knowledge of local streets and how to navigate them quickly. Because contestants from out of town are at a significant disadvantage with regard to knowledge of local streets, they are usually awarded status and prizes in their own subcategory. Another traditional prize category is the self-explanatory DFL (Dead Fucking Last).

Large and well-known alleycats are sometimes sponsored by local bike shops and by manufacturers of messenger bags and other gear favored by bicycle messengers and other urban riders.